Magma news

[Zeuhlmate]

They strike me as beyond lifers – not hard to envision a Gong-like future where Magma is led by alumni.

(I would love that if Bubu were still in the band.)

But which drummer would be able to lift that 'burden'?

[NogbadTheBad]

But which drummer would be able to lift that 'burden'?

Morgan Agren

[Marco]

Pretty sure Daniel Jeand'heur could pull it off too.

There's a handful of Norwegian drummers who could do a great job at it too, but I doubt anyone other than Aagren would be up for the task.


Now I feel bad for bringing this subject up; I'm not keen on seeing this post-Phil lineup, yet I know I will chastise myself forever for not going to see them once more before ol' Kreuhn Kohrmann kicks the bucket.

[Dana5140]

Tomas Haake could. Not that he would. Morgen is the likeliest person.

Like I sad, Keiko has been hanging out with Isabelle, and here is a home photo of Zab off Instagram.

IMG_1812.jpg

[calyx]

Having Morgan play drums in the band would require him moving to France, as a Vander-less Magma would have less prospects of doing long tours that would justify the expense of flying him over (like they did in 2019 for the Philharmonie show). There are French drummers who could do a great job. Daniel Jeand'heur has been cited, and he used to play in a Magma cover band in the 1990s. Philippe Gleizes used to run a Zeuhl band that included the young Paganottis in the 1990s, and more recently Caillou, one of whose many keyboard players was Emmanuel Borghi. He was also hired to join Offering when they last reformed in 2013, and it was said at the time that Vander viewed him as a potential successor. And of course Simon Goubert could switch from piano to drums, his 'real' instrument. All of these possibilities I rate much higher than Morgan joining.

[Trane]

Tomas Haake could. Not that he would. Morgen is the likeliest person.

The drumming part is one thing, but could any of them sing like him??

After all, he's the best Magma singer.

[Jos]

Please stop talking as if Christian Vander is already dead?

[calyx]

The drumming part is one thing, but could any of them sing like him??

After all, he's the best Magma singer.

Well, the bulk of the lead singing has always been done by someone else, except in the early 1980s when they had a second drummer.
Anyway, Antoine is my favourite of the vocalists they've had, Vander included. There are, let's say, "extremes" in Vander's style that rub my ears the wrong way.
I wouldn't expect Antoine to ever return, though. He's moved on.

As for a post-Vander Magma being a taboo subject for some, well, I'm enjoying every extra year Vander is living on this planet, but as a Magma fan, I would enjoy it if the band could continue if Vander is forced to retire from all or part of his role in Magma. We're not necessarily talking about more radical forms of 'retirement' here.

[Dana5140]

I really like Antoine, too, and Himiko, but do realize they are now off doing their own things. In the new iteration of the band, I am massively impressed with Caroline Indjein: I have not really gotten a good sense yet of Sylvie or Laura, but because Caroline is so active on social media, I've seen her permform in a number of settings, from bossa nova, to classic rock, to the vocal pyrotechnics of Magma. I posted this before, but it is worth revisiting.



For Laura, I just find her in her ancient music band or with former singer Sandrine DeStefanis, in the Babydoll Trio:



For Sylvie, her acapella group. I wonder how you go from acapella and oldtime classics to Magma. (Herve also leads an acapella group). Calyx, any insight into how these ladies ended up with Magma? (If I recall, Caroline wrote to Christian without ever having met him!).

[Trane]

As for a post-Vander Magma being a taboo subject for some, well, I'm enjoying every extra year Vander is living on this planet, but as a Magma fan, I would enjoy it if the band could continue if Vander is forced to retire from all or part of his role in Magma. We're not necessarily talking about more radical forms of 'retirement' here.

I'm not certain that the more hardcore Magma fans (they're a very "special crowd" in France - often not well spoken about by other rock fans crowds) would actually support a Vander-less Magma. As you said (very rightly-so) earlier in this thread, the band's main market is their home-market, and witnessing a Magma concert in France and In Belgium, the ambiance is noticeably different.


Of course we could draw a certain parallel with post-Daevid Gong: I'd be curious to see how many old-fans ( mainly the "No Daevid, no Gong" crowd) are still going to Kavus' version, especially now that there haven't been any historical members since Daevid left for greener pastures. Like many, I was there at the first tour the new iteration of the band made, found it OK, but haven't returned and haven't bought their latest studio offering.

Well, the bulk of the lead singing has always been done by someone else, except in the early 1980s when they had a second drummer.
Anyway, Antoine is my favourite of the vocalists they've had, Vander included. There are, let's say, "extremes" in Vander's style that rub my ears the wrong way.

I agree that Vander has some extremes that can make many WTF (yours truly included).
But Vander's vocals and presence at the front of the stage when he sings (especially if you're less than 1m away from him) sort of epitomizes what Magma is. His facial expressions shows that he is and lives Magma (I mean the man literally oozes molten lava), something other singers can't approach (except maybe Klaus). Sure being 1m away from Stella and Isa when both are singing brings somewhat awe and adoration, but not nearly at the same level.
I'm not sure I even listen to the rest of the band when Vander steps upfront (or lifts his butt off the stool), and can't totally assert that they're actually playing something.

I mean, on a French level, next to Vander's stage presence Bertrand Cantat or Christian Descamp's respective stage charisma are nearly almost nowhere - and yet, both are also at the top.

Vander's presence is so overpowering that seeing the band without him would only reinforce the impression of "no Christian, No Magma" feel.

[Marco]

Oh how I miss the Paganottis-Bussonnet-MacGaw-Borghi lineup. Pretty sure that was the best live band in the entire world.

[Rarebird]

Well, the bulk of the lead singing has always been done by someone else, except in the early 1980s when they had a second drummer.
Anyway, Antoine is my favourite of the vocalists they've had, Vander included. There are, let's say, "extremes" in Vander's style that rub my ears the wrong way.
I wouldn't expect Antoine to ever return, though. He's moved on.

As for a post-Vander Magma being a taboo subject for some, well, I'm enjoying every extra year Vander is living on this planet, but as a Magma fan, I would enjoy it if the band could continue if Vander is forced to retire from all or part of his role in Magma. We're not necessarily talking about more radical forms of 'retirement' here.

As long as he is somehow involved in writing the music, I suppose. I can't see Magma music without any involvement of Christian Vander. It would be like a Wagner opera, not written by Richard Wagner.

[boilk]

Oh how I miss the Paganottis-Bussonnet-MacGaw-Borghi lineup. Pretty sure that was the best live band in the entire world.

I cannot disagree. Those Triton DVDs from that era are spectacular.

I'm just happy that I got to see them many times with Bussonnet-MacGaw, at least.

Neil

[calyx]

Sylvie Fisichella is the wife of the drummer from Shylock. Stella and Francis are based in Nice principally, so I guess it's a local connection, as with the other 'new' vocalists. Caroline is a more recent recruit but also seems to be based in the region.

[moecurlythanu]

After seeing some of the backlash on Fecesbook to the current version of Tangerine Dream, ( who are excellent,) I can only imagine the howling if a Vander-less version of Magma were to carry on.

[Dana5140]

Shylock was active back in the 1970s! Andre was the drummer, though I do not know what he is doing now. I have seen him in a few pics of the band (Magma) when they were traveling. Where are Christian and Zab based? Nice is a long way from Paris!

[calyx]

Shylock was active back in the 1970s! Andre was the drummer, though I do not know what he is doing now. I have seen him in a few pics of the band (Magma) when they were traveling. Where are Christian and Zab based? Nice is a long way from Paris!

Shylock reformed in the 2010s, saw them a couple of times during that period, so André was still kind of active as a drummer in recent years, although he's had health issues since. Christian is based in the greater Paris area (Seine-et-Marne), you can see his property in the interview on the Emehntett-Re trilogy DVD. Don't know about Zab - she and Christian haven't been together in over twenty years.

[Dana5140]

I thought Zab got married a few years ago; I did see some pictures that Stella posted then. I just wonder how hard it is to do things like rehearse if you are coming in from all over France.

[calyx]

I thought Zab got married a few years ago; I did see some pictures that Stella posted then. I just wonder how hard it is to do things like rehearse if you are coming in from all over France.

I believe Stella and Francis still have the house/studio in Montmagny near Paris, although they are based in Nice most of the year now, and travel back and forth. I would assume there are rehearsals with just the rhythm section, who are all in/near Paris, and others with just the vocalists, most of whom are in the South. Le Triton is often used for full band rehearsals just before a tour. As for next autumn's rehearsals of the new piece, they will probably hire a place for a week or two at a time with everyone present.

[kobaiana]

André (drums), Sylvie (chant) and Jean-Marc Baccarini (saxophone and keyboard) have a band called Ructus. In 2015, they played in théâtre Lino Ventura, in Nice, in first part of Magma concert. I think it was the first encounter between Sylvie and Magma.

[kobaiana]

There is a new progressive french band called Gorgones. Caroline and Lora are singing. Alexandre Indjein plays drums and sings. Jimmy Top plays bass and Thomas Baudin is on guitars. First album will be released at the end of 2024.

[kobaiana]

For Ructus, it was a quartet that evening, but it is normally a quintet. I don’t know if the project still exists. You can find 2 or three videos on YouTube. Most complete is there : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tsRshrfd5s